| Deadline: March 31, 2026 |
Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships 2026 is an esteemed fully funded scholarship programme offered by the New Zealand Government through Education New Zealand. Designed to support international tertiary students from eligible developing countries, this scholarship enables recipients to pursue undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in New Zealand’s world-class institutions while contributing to social and economic development in their home countries.
Manaaki New Zealand Government Scholarship 2026
Scholarship Coverage
Recipients of the Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships enjoy comprehensive support throughout their study period, including:
- Full tuition fees.
- Living allowance. This will help with basic living expenses. If you commence your scholarship study programme in your home country, your stipend will be adjusted to reflect the difference in living costs around the world.
- And establishment allowance to help with set-up costs in New Zealand. For example, you can use it for accommodation expenses, textbooks, or other study materials.
- Medical insurance when you are in New Zealand.
- Tutoring costs to assist with additional academic support if needed.
- Travel to and from your own country. This is for travel from your own country at the start of the scholarship, and for return travel at the end of your scholarship.
- Travel insurance.
- Travel home during your scholarship. Scholars studying over 1.6 years are entitled to travel home to visit family. We usually allow for one or two trips, depending on the length.
- Reintegration allowance. This is to help with set-up costs upon your return to your home country.
- Help with research and thesis costs for many postgraduate students.
These benefits ensure scholars can focus fully on their academic and personal growth during their tenure in New Zealand.
Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships Eligibility Criteria
Required Language:
EnglishEligible Countries:
Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships are available to citizens from eligible countries. If your country is not on the list, then the New Zealand Government does not offer any academic scholarships to you.Work Experience:
a. One year of full-time work experience (i.e., 30 hours or more per week), ORb. Two years of part-time work experience (i.e, up to 29 hours per week).
Age Requirement:
The candidate must be 18 years old or older when they start the scholarship
Candidates must contribute to their country’s development:
Residency Requirements:
Applicants must reside in their home country for two years before commencing their studies.
Academic and English Requirement:
As part of the Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships application process, you need to choose your preferred education institution and preferred courses. Scholarship applicants don’t need to apply for admission to their preferred education institution and courses until they are notified that they are a preferred candidate for a scholarship. However, scholarship applicants do need to check that they are likely to meet the minimum academic requirements and the minimum level of English required for their courses. Course entry requirements are set by your chosen education institution, so you must check the minimum entry requirements on their website before you apply for a scholarship.- Generally, to study for a postgraduate qualification, you must have at least:
- An overall IELTS score of 6.5 and no band less than 6.0
- A TOEFL score of 90 on the internet-based test with a writing score of 21
- An overall PTE Academic score of 58, with no communicative skills score less than 50
- A Cambridge Academic English (advanced) overall score of 176 with no bands less than 169. - Generally, to study for an undergraduate qualification, you must have at least:
- An overall IELTS score of 6.0 and no band less than 5.5
- A TOEFL score of 80 on the internet-based test with a writing score of 21
- An overall PTE Academic score of 50, with no communication skills score less than 42
- A Cambridge Academic English (advanced) overall score of 169 with no bands less than 162.
Visa Requirement:
If your scholarship application is for study in New Zealand, then you must meet these visa requirements: Student visa requirements and application form for New Zealand.Important Application Timeline
The 2026 tertiary scholarship application round will open at midnight on 1 March 2026 (NZ time) and close at midday on 31 March 2026 (NZ time). Prospective applicants should prepare their documents and eligibility information before this window to ensure successful submission.
How to Apply for Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships 2026 (Step by Step)
Eligible applicants can only start an application from the application opening date for their country.
Step 1: Confirm your eligibility
Complete the Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships online eligibility test at: https://nzscholarships.my.site.com/Scholar/s/eligibility-test to see if you are eligible to apply. If the Online Eligibility Test confirms that you are eligible, you will get an eligibility code (number).Step 2: Register for a Manaaki New Zealand Scholarship account
If you are eligible, you will see a “register” button on the webpage. Click on this to start your registration for a Manaaki New Zealand Scholarship Account. You will be asked to enter an email address (this will become your username for logging on again later). The system will run a check to make sure that this email address is not already being used. If the check passes, you will need to complete the rest of your account details and select ‘Register’. This is where you will enter the Eligibility Code that you have emailed to yourself or written down.Step 3: Set a password for your Manaaki New Zealand Scholarship account
You will be sent an email to set a password to complete the registration process. Click on the link in the email, which will take you to a screen where you will need to set your password. Remember to look in your spam folder, where automated messages are sometimes filtered.Step 4: Complete and submit your application before the closing date
Use your Manaaki New Zealand Scholarship Account to access the Manaaki New Zealand Scholarship online application system anytime between the opening and closing dates.To know more about Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships, please visit the official website
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